| |
Alma the Younger
"With this seal," Alma said, holding up the high priest seal stolen from his father's house, "We can infiltrate any church in any village, including the main city churches of Zarahemla."
The heads of the council members nodded in agreement.
Alma turned his pointed gaze to Kaman. The festivities of the week had wound down late the previous night, and now the council met in their first official gathering. It had been an eventful week. Gifts of all kinds had been delivered to Alma's new home hourly, sometimes several in an hour, not only from their own village, but from people in surrounding villages who wanted to join in Alma's cause of freedom from king Mosiah's religious edicts.
Alma's wardrobe was now stocked with the finest cloth in Zarahemla, ranging from robes, to fur capes, to several headdresses. he had rows of necklaces and nearly a dozen jeweled rings.
Still, Alma wore little to betray the extravagance in his wardrobe. he did not want to draw undue attention as he traveled about the land or draw notice to his high-ranking status. Wherever he went, he wore the half-moon jade necklace that Belicia had given him concealed beneath his robes.
Inside the Isidro village, he let the splendor show, knowing it made the villagers proud, especially when they could pick out something they had given him. It was amazing that these poor citizens had such luxurious items, but it was mainly because they had seen better days, and now they were not able to trade in their luxury goods for food or sturdy clothing due to the tensions.
The king's sons had spent a couple of nights at Alma's new home already, now that his home was quite a bit more lavish than his old hut. The judgment hall was a two-story building with several bedchambers housed on the upper floor. The main floor consisted of a gathering room, a large cooking room, and Alma's bedchamber.
Enticing aromas drifted into the council room. Kaman had arranged for female servants to provide the food for the judgment hall, now renamed the "chief 's house."
"Step one is to infiltrate their congregations and gain their trust," Alma said. "step two will be to set the traps."
The men on the council looked at him with interest as Alma continued. "Just as I set a trap for a wild boar or a wild turkey, we must proceed with stealth. As we gain information from the congregations, we will take our final revenge for Belicia—our goddess Bel—as she has instructed."
The men knew of Alma's dream and of Belicia's wishes for the village. At the mention of her name, they all lifted the jade necklaces to their lips.
"Excellent!" Kaman declared, rubbing his hands together, a grin spreading on his face.
"Ammon has brought us sheaves of skins for writing on from the king's own temple so that nothing will be suspected." Alma held up a sheaf of skin to demonstrate. "All of you will carry your false baptism records with you to your new congregations. We will station two men per area. You will each formulate a story of how you arrived in Zarahemla and were recently baptized by the high priest into the Church. The members will be eager to fill you in on every detail about their lives and the lives of their members. Your intrusive questions about Church activity will not be suspect."
Jacob, who sat nearest Alma asked, "How will we infiltrate Limhi's congregation?"
"Aaron and Ammon will handle that area. Since Aaron is betrothed to Limhi's daughter, it will seem natural that he start attending her father's sabbath services."
Aaron nodded, a proud smile on his face.
"Do you think Limhi ordered the tavern burned, then?" Kaman broke in.
Aaron shook his head slowly. "It's possible, but Limhi is less likely to cross the king." Chuckles echoed around the council. "But his oldest son . . . I have never cared for him."
"Nehem?" Omner and Himni spoke at once, looking at Aaron in surprise. "But Cassia—" Himni started.
"It doesn't matter his connection to our family," Aaron broke in, his tone suddenly fierce. "Alma's work is more important."
Omner fell quiet, nodding, but Himni said, "What will Cassia think?"
No one answered.
The next two hours were spent with Alma forging Church documents and making assignments for each man.
"We will meet here every three days to report our findings," Alma said. "If you have urgent news, report it immediately. We have two weeks, then we'll start the next segment. Stay careful and smart." He glanced down at the leather armband he wore. "For now, keep these hidden from public view. If you see or hear of a brave deed by a villager, award an armband. The more of the armbands we distribute, the stronger our cause will grow. Each man will begin to feel that he is part of something larger than himself."
The council adjourned, and Alma called for the supper to be brought in. He was pleased to see Sara among the servers. Although he'd chided her in the past for acting as a servant instead of a guest, he was getting used to her presence and found it comforting. Not that she spent every night at his home, and he often wondered where she went when she left, but he wouldn't worry about that now. Today she was here, with him.
Sara set a platter of steamed vegetables and maize in front of Alma, her gaze lingering on him. He smiled and she leaned close. "Tonight my ladies have a new dance to perform."
"By all means, invite them here," Alma said. "I'll have plenty of guests to entertain." he looked around at his council, and the men nodded eagerly at the suggestion.
"Very well," Sara said, slowly moving away, her flowery plumeria scent still lingering, even after she'd returned to the cooking room.
* * *
Alma woke in the dark to pounding on his door. "Come in!" he shouted, but the pounding continued. He staggered to his feet, nearly tripping over another body. For a moment he wondered if he was being robbed and wondered where his servants were. Then he remembered that the king's sons had spent the night in his home, and after the dancing, he'd sent the servants home. Conveniently, his friends were still sleeping. He wondered for an instant why they hadn't gone to bed in the other rooms but had sprawled in the main hall. It was too dark to tell, but he wouldn't be surprised if there were a few women scattered among the sleeping men.
He crossed to the door and flung it open. Moonlight lit up the man on his doorstep. "Kaman, what do you want?"
"I have news for you," Kaman said, grinning.
"I was sleeping, you fool. Save it till morning," Alma said, turning away and swinging the door shut in the man's face.
But Kaman put his foot on the threshold, stopping the door.
"This can't wait."
Alma let out a sigh of frustration that turned into a yawn. "Come in."
Kaman peered inside. "Who's your company?"
"Some from the council, plus a few others—"
"This is private."
Alma's irritation rose. "All right, let's go out back." he followed Kaman outside and around the house. Alma stopped at the far side of the elaborate garden and folded his arms. "Out with it."
"We've avenged Belicia once and for all," Kaman announced in a proud voice.
Alma rubbed his neck. If he was dreaming, he'd better wake soon.
"What do you mean?"
"We took Aaron's suggestion to investigate Nehem. We asked some trusted men about him. He was the one who ordered the tavern to be burned."
"Are you sure?"
"Oh yes, several have confirmed it, and we have a letter Nehem wrote with orders," Kaman said. "and there's more. He's recommended a death sentence to be placed on my and Jacob's heads. If we're caught again, no prison sentence for us. Immediate death."
Alma wasn't entirely surprised about the death sentence, but he felt angry at the thought of Nehem behind the attacks. He thought of Cassia—she certainly wouldn't approve of reacting in such a violent manner. He wondered if she knew what her betrothed was up to.
"Swear to me that you will not tell a soul what I am about to reveal."
Alma stared at Kaman's triumphant face. "What did you do?"
"Slew him."
Alma felt as if he'd been punched in the stomach. "What?
Wh—who?"
"Nehem. He's gone. We won't have to worry about him anymore," Kaman said. "Our taverns are safe—his followers will be too frightened to retaliate now that we know their names. Aaron was hesitant about us having enough proof, but Nehem's letter confirmed otherwise."
Alma turned away from Kaman, trying to comprehend the horrible confession. He clenched his hands, anger and disbelief and confusion colliding in his head, then he looked at Kaman. "Tell. Me. What. Happened."
"Can you keep the secret until your grave?" Kaman asked, his face twisted into a confident smile.
Alma had to force himself not to slam his fist into the man's face.
"Yes," he hissed. "Get on with it!"
Kaman looked to the left and right in darkness, then lowered his voice. "Upon my blood and your blood, you can never reveal what I am about to tell you."
Alma stared at him. "I will not."
"Jacob and I traveled to his home tonight," Kaman said in a low voice. "Jacob has a friend who used to work as a servant in Limhi's home, so he sketched us a map of the place—the courtyards, bedchambers. As for the correct bedchamber, he had to presume a little, but he gave us a good description so that we could check before we struck. We wanted to speed things up a little—and hoped that Aaron wouldn't mind that we took care of Nehem."
Alma was dumbfounded. This was not the vengeance Belicia had asked for. It was supposed to take place at the temple . . . He wished he could stop Kaman from speaking, hoping it was a terrible dream. But the cool wind touching his skin and the steady light of the moon told him this was all too real.
"I was scared, mind you," Kaman continued, with a nervous chuckle. "I worried that he might awake and put up a fight. We both brought our daggers you gave us. You know the ones Ammon brought for every council member?" Kaman peered around Alma. "Is he inside? I need to tell him what excellent workmanship he does; I've never seen anything like—"
Alma grabbed Kaman's arm, squeezing. "Did you stab Nehem? Tell me."
Kaman's eyes widened in surprise. "We both went for him at the same time. I got his chest, and Jacob his throat—brilliant on Jacob's part, since the man might have cried out."
Alma released Kaman's arm and felt rage pump through him. Image after image pulsed through his mind as he imagined the gruesome scene, the discovery of Nehem's body by Limhi, then the news yet to be delivered to Cassia and her family. She would be devastated.
"It was unsettling to kill a man," Kaman said. "We fled the house and only set off a few dogs barking. The only problem is that Jacob dropped his dagger somewhere outside. We'll have to get his friend to search for us." When Alma didn't respond, Kaman said, "Don't worry, no one will know about this but us."
Alma shook his head, anger and reason blending together. Cassia would be heartbroken. Her betrothed had just lost his life. No doubt the king would make every effort to discover the murderer, and the dagger could easily be traced back to Ammon.
More than that, Kaman had no right to act so impulsively without consulting him first. Alma clenched his right hand and drove it15into Kaman's face. The man stumbled back, then hit the ground, unconscious.
Alma sprinted to the front of his home and burst through the door. "Wake up!" he shouted. "Wake up!" he shook the brothers awake, slapping Omner's face, because he was the most reluctant to stir. He shooed out the other men and women, forcing them to stumble back to their homes in the dark.
When the last house guest disappeared, he turned to the king's sons. "We need to get out of here, now!" He looked at the bleary-eyed faces and spilled out Kaman's story. Their expressions went from shock to anger, then fear.
Ammon reached for his dagger that he kept in his waistband at all times. "I'll take care of Kaman right now."
"No," Alma said. "that makes you no better than he is. He thought he was helping me—avenging Belicia's death. He has the gall to believe there would be no retaliation." His laugh was bitter. "I'll deal with him later, but for now, each of you needs to be in your own beds at the palace. When your father learns of this, he needs to know that his sons were at home asleep all night."
Aaron nodded. "Let's get out of here."
But Ammon's face was still red with anger. "Where's Kaman?"
Alma put a hand on his shoulder, restraining him. "Leave, Ammon. now! I'll take care of Kaman. Dawn is in a few hours. Nehem's body may have already been discovered."
Aaron tugged at his brother's arm, but Ammon resisted. "You tell him . . . you tell Kaman that I want every knife back before the sun sets again. If one word is spoken of this to anyone, I'll personally end his life."
Alma shoved Ammon out of the door, whispering "Run!" to the brothers.
When they were gone, he turned to survey the inside of his home, the luxurious fur rugs, his prized skins, the cushions made of fine linens and intricate embroidery. Was there anything to link him to
Nehem's murder? The daggers—if one was found on Limhi's property and similar ones were found in Alma's home, the link would be obvious.
But how will they know to look here? It wouldn't take but a drunken confession or two. He couldn't take the risk.
He crossed the room to the wall that housed a display of finely crafted weapons—most of them gifts but several made by Ammon's own hand.
He took all of the daggers from the shelves and dropped them into a waterskin hanging in the cooking room. Fear pulsed through his veins as he cleared them out. Anger. Grief.
Cassia—what will she think of Nehem's murder? Who will tell her? How will she find out?
The questions tumbled inside Alma's head until he could no longer stand it. He could visualize Cassia's tears, her sorrow. He leaned against the wall and sank to the floor, pulling up his knees to his chest.
There was no safety in the village of Isidro anymore for Kaman or Jacob. Alma had to get them out—hide them somewhere.
Alma scanned the room, plotting what he could use to bribe another village to hide his friends. He would have to tread carefully—ears and eyes were everywhere. He grabbed a bag of silver onties he kept hidden in a basket of grain in the cooking room, then he threw on his cloak and went into the back courtyard. Kaman was gone. Alma cursed and walked around the perimeter of his home, hurrying to Kaman's place. Even in the moonlight, the renovations on the modest hut were obvious. Since Kaman had joined the council, it seemed the villagers had treated him well.
Alma knocked on the front door as loudly as he dared. It was opened immediately by Kaman, Eden standing behind him. she scurried to the corner as Alma strode into the room. It was obvious she knew where the welt on her husband's face had come from.
"We have to get you out of here," Alma growled.
Kaman looked over at Eden, the fear in his eyes matching hers. He touched the side of his face gingerly, glancing at his wife. "Very well."
Eden covered her mouth with a small gasp. He shook his head, as if warning her, and they quickly embraced.
Her hands trembled as she released him. She whispered something to him, but he shook his head again and grabbed his outer robe. He followed Alma out the door without another word.
The two men walked to Jacob's house nearby. Again, Alma knocked as loudly as he dared, then entered the hut. Jacob was on his way out of his bedchamber by the time they bypassed the main room, his knife drawn, eyes huge.
"You're coming with us," Alma said.
Jacob disappeared into his bedchamber for a second to speak to his wife, then he was out again, following behind Alma and Kaman as they stepped outside.
The night had just begun to soften as the three men left the village and traveled along the narrow road that wound through the trees to the next village. Alma urged Kaman and Jacob faster until all three ran at a steady pace.
"Why are you so upset, Alma?" Kaman asked, his voice coming in gasps. "I thought you'd be pleased. We've had our revenge. Belicia can now rest in peace."
"You don't understand," Alma said, looking sideways at the two scruffy men. "The revenge was to take place at the temple. Killing Nehem might thwart our bigger plans. It's only a matter of time that your deed will be linked back to me."
Kaman narrowed his eyes, pushing his body to keep up with Alma's longer stride. "You know that we won't let anything happen to you."
Alma came to an abrupt stop, followed by Jacob and Kaman, confusion in both men's eyes.
"Nehem was betrothed to someone I used to know very well—in fact, we almost became betrothed ourselves."
Jacob's expression was incredulous. "But . . . Nehem is betrothed to the king's daughter—"
"Who are you, Alma?" Kaman said. "We have respected your privacy, but if you knew the king's daughter—and the king's sons hearken to your every request . . ."
Alma took a deep breath and looked away. These men would figure it out soon enough—and each of them owed him their very lives, especially now. If he could trust anyone, it would be them. "I am the high priest's son."
Kaman opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
Jacob shook his head slowly. "That . . . that explains why you are so learned."
Alma's shoulders sagged. "Don't you see? Leaving Ammon's knife at Limhi's homestead will link the death to Ammon and then to me."
"And this girl, the king's daughter—you still care for her," Kaman said, peering into Alma's eyes.
He turned away, pain flooding through him. "It was a long time ago." He couldn't let himself drown in regret. He had comrades to hide away and a village that depended on him. And he had a movement to organize—one that would free the people of Zarahemla from religious and economic oppression.
He looked at Kaman and Jacob, seeing fierce loyalty in their eyes, and straightened his shoulders. "What's done is done. There's no turning back now. Let's go, my friends." Alma started running again, followed by the two men. With each pounding step that reverberated through his body, Alma let his heart and mind close with each beat until he was able to push all thoughts of Cassia out of his mind.
They passed along the outskirts of the next village, avoiding the homes, and only alerting a few flocks of sleepy turkeys. The path turned uphill toward a secluded village, where Alma's friend Teoti lived.
As the three men entered the village of Chiapa, the sky had just begun to lighten with the new day. Soon, Nehem's body would be discovered and the alarm would sound throughout Limhi's home. Haste mattered.
Although it was still early, Alma wasn't surprised to see smoke rising from behind the merchant's house. These people were up early and working late, day in and day out. Alma led Jacob and Kaman around the hut.
Teoti was bent over a low rock formation, fanning the flames that crackled in the center with a bellows. Even though Alma hadn't made a sound, Teoti turned abruptly, his hand at his waist as if he were about to reach for a dagger.
But when he recognized his visitor, his aged face relaxed.
Teoti hurried forward, clasping Alma's hand and bowing. "Welcome, welcome," he said, his smile showing several gaps in his teeth. He raised his thin eyebrows as he surveyed Kaman and Jacob. "Come, the tea is almost ready."
The man had a metal pot perched over the flames, not some blacksmithing instrument. The merchant busied himself with collecting wooden cups that were stacked on a nearby rock. One he shook, depositing a bug onto the ground.
"Very good," Teoti muttered as he dropped dried lemon leaves into the cups, then poured hot water over them.
As the men settled around the fire, the merchant eyed Alma eagerly, his sharp eyes taking in the jade necklace about his throat. "You came for more necklaces?"
"No," Alma said. "But my friends here wear the necklaces too."
Kaman and Jacob moved their robes so that the merchant could see their jade pieces.
Alma bid his time, taking several sips of tea before speaking again. "These are important men in my village, but there are some who wish to see them dead."
Teoti's eyes widened.
Alma leaned forward, staring at the merchant. "I need them to stay here, hidden, for a while. We will pay well."
The merchant looked up at the pale sky and muttered something that sounded like a prayer. Then he met Alma's gaze again. "How much?"
From his cloak, Alma withdrew the bag of coins and handed them over.
The merchant peered inside, then hefted the bag. "Very good." His gaze flitted over to Kaman and Jacob as if to assess them. "What did they do?"
Alma put a finger to his lips. "We need to protect you from any information. The less you know, the better off you'll be. If anyone comes to your village asking about them, you must send them away."
"Agreed," Teoti said, again weighing the bag in his hand.
"When I come to fetch them, I'll bring you another bag of coins," Alma said.
The merchant's eyes crinkled as he smiled. He rose and patted Alma on the shoulder. "Very good. This will be our secret."
Alma nodded, then looked at Kaman and Jacob, who both looked resigned to their new fate as they sipped their lemon tea.